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Massachusetts public elementary school

John B Devalles Elementary

New Bedford school district

C
overall grade

Ranks #741 of 895 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Overall rank
#741
of 895 schools
ELA · 2024–2026
15%
MA average 42%
Math · 2024–2026
17%
MA average 43%
Avg class size
20
296 students

ELA and Math show the share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS, averaged over 2024–2026.

How it compares

What stands out
  • Strongest area: Attendance, in the top 42% statewide. Students attend 94.6% of school days on average.
  • Area to watch: ELA ranks in the bottom 7% statewide.
  • Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 36.6% in 2022 to 15.9% in 2025.
  • Trend: Math is down 20 points since 2023 (32% to 12%).
Where it stands among 895 Massachusetts elementary schools
Bottom of MATop of MA
Overall
Below averagebottom 18% · #741
ELA
Well below averagebottom 7% · #838
Math
Below averagebottom 11% · #799
Attendance
Averagetop 42% · #375
Teacher quality
Below averagebottom 22% · #700

MCAS standings use the 2024–2026 average of grade 3 results, so one unusual year doesn't swing a school's ranking. Scores in the sections below are from 2026.

Test scores

ELA has been below the state average every year since 2018. Math has been above the state average in 1 of 8 years since 2018.

Share of 3rd graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts16%in 2026 · state 43%
27 points below the state
0%50%100%This school16%State43%20172019202120232026
Math12%in 2026 · state 42%
30 points below the state
0%50%100%This school12%State42%20172019202120232026
Detailed scores
Average scaled score, ELA (500+ = meeting expectations)475
Average scaled score, Math (500+ = meeting expectations)468
Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)3rd · 3rd

Students & classrooms

Classrooms
Students296
Average class size20MA avg 18
Students per teacher11.2MA avg 12.1
Who attends
Hispanic/Latino
49.3%
White
23%
Black/African American
20.3%
Multi-Race
7.4%

45.3% girls · 54.7% boys

Student needs
Low incomeHigher than average
This school
86.8%
MA avg
42.8%
English learnersHigher than average
This school
43.2%
MA avg
17.2%
Students with disabilitiesLower than average
This school
17.9%
MA avg
22.3%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average
This school
96.2%
MA avg
98.4%
Experienced teachersWorse than average
This school
65.4%
MA avg
73.2%
Teaching in their fieldAbout average
This school
92.3%
MA avg
92.4%
Stayed from last yearWorse than average
This school
74.1%
MA avg
82.7%
More staffing details
Teachers (full-time equivalent)26
General education teachers80.8%
Special education teachers11.5%
English learner teachers7.7%

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateAbout average
This school
94.6%
MA avg
94.1%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysAbout average
This school
15.9%
MA avg
15.6%

9.2 days absent per student (MA avg 10.3) · Suspensions: 1.9% out-of-school, 0.3% in-school (MA elementary avg 2% / 1%)

About New Bedford

Bristol County · South Coast & Cape Cod
Avg single-family home value$425KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$4,653MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$22,531MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school93.8%
Town bond ratingAA-
Free cash reserves1.9% of budget

New Bedford district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.

Other schools in New Bedford

See all 17 New Bedford elementary schools →

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